NAPERVILLE, Ill. — The Carthage College women's bowling team was selected to finish fourth in the 2026-27 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) preseason poll, as voted on by the league's seven head coaches.

The Firebirds received 22 points in the preseason poll, placing fourth behind preseason favorite Carroll (Wis.), Marian (Wis.), and Augustana (Ill.).

Carthage enters the 2026-27 campaign following a third-place finish at last season's CCIW Championship. The Firebirds are led by third-year head coach Dale Lehman and return Airie Frost, the program's lone All-CCIW selection from a season ago.

Carthage will open its season Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Western Shootout in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Firebirds will compete in 12 events throughout the regular season before the CCIW Championship, March 20-21 in Bloomington, Illinois, hosted by Illinois Wesleyan.

Following the season-opening Western Shootout, Carthage will compete at the Division III Roundup in Waukegan, Illinois, on Oct. 17. The Firebirds will then participate in the Windy City Classic in Des Plaines, Illinois, on Oct. 30, followed by the Leatherneck Classic in Rockford, Illinois, on Nov. 14.

Carthage will close the fall portion of its schedule at the first CCIW event of the season, Nov. 21, in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

The Firebirds will return to competition in January, beginning with the Kegel/ISBPA Tier #1 event Jan. 16 in Addison, Illinois. Carthage will then compete at the Storm Baker Challenge Jan. 23 in Highland, Indiana, before traveling to the Flyer Classic Feb. 5 in Lockport, Illinois.

The second CCIW event is scheduled for Feb. 13 in Addison, Illinois, followed by the All-Region Division III Invite Feb. 26 in Lansing, Michigan. Carthage will then travel to Nashville, Tennessee, for the Music City Classic on March 5 before concluding the regular season at the USBC Sectionals on March 12 at a site to be determined.